The South African National Association for the Visual Arts
(SANAVA)
National President's message for 2012
We see that passion and vision, and not financial gain, are the two most powerful motivators in human endeavour. Tell that to struggling artists, you will say! Yet we know that success will follow tenacity and single-mindedness. Let’s keep that work-in-progress list of things we plan to do close by and let one of the items on the list be to support the fledgling artist or new art groups in our area.
Jean Anouilh (1910 – 1987) said that life is nice, but it has no shape. It is the purpose of art to give it shape.
We invite all our member branches to keep us posted and send us news of your activities for the SANAVA Web News.
The Executive Committee of SANAVA wishes all our members good vision and bold art-making for 2012.
Dirkie Offringa
SANAVA National PresidentBACKGROUND
SANAVA is the oldest, constitutionally established, most representative, national non-governmental association for the promotion of the visual arts in South Africa, its origin dating back to 1851 when the Cape Fine Arts Society (CFAS) was established.
Over the years, the Society has grown to become a national body of artists and lovers of the visual arts. The organisation proved its resilience despite several war-time situations and challenges of an economic, financial, social and political nature. Several name changes were due to follow: in 1871 it became the South African Fine Arts Association (SAFAA), in 1945 the South African Association of Arts (SAAA), and in 1998 the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA). Despite the name changes, the Association basically retained the same objectives as reflected in the original Constitution, that of promoting the visual arts in its widest context. One of SANAVA’s major objectives concerning the development of artists relates to the administration of three fully equipped artists’ studios, in the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. These were acquired during the early 1990s in terms of an occupational rights agreement, valid till 2060.
SANAVA is an overall administrative body, serving autonomous branches and affiliated organisations (art galleries, museums, educational institutions and corporate bodies providing for the promotion of the visual arts) country-wide. Presently, the Association comprises 26 branches and 19 affiliated organisations, including two academic institutions in Mozambique (the National School of Visual Arts of Mozambique and the Portuguese School of Mozambique, both in Maputo). Its Constitution does not allow for individual artists directly to become members of the national association. They have to be members of a branch that is a member of the national body.
SANAVA is registered with the Department of Social Development as a Non-profit Organisation as well as with the South African Revenue Service as a Public Benefit Organisation. Although the SAAA (earlier name of SANAVA) had been a founding member of the International Association of Art (IAA) in 1954, it became a dormant member in later years. On 24 September 2005, at the 16th General Assembly of the IAA held in China, SANAVA was readmitted as a member of that non-governmental world body, closely associated with UNESCO.
Main Objectives
The promotion of the visual arts in general
The development of visual artists
Furthering international cooperation in the field of the visual arts
Management Committee
At the Annual General Meeting of the South African National Association for the Visual Arts, held in Pretoria on 28 August 2010, the following members were elected to constitute the Association’s Management Committee for a three-year term:
National President
Mrs Dirkie OFFRINGA
(Stellenbosch Association of Arts)National Vice-Presidents
Mr Anton LOUBSER
(Association of Arts Pretoria)
He will remain charged with the administration of the Association as Acting Executive OfficerMs Avitha SOOFUL
(Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark)Advocate Yvonne BURNS
(Association of Arts Pretoria)Honorary National Treasurer for the year 2010/2011
Advocate Alexander ELLIS
(Association of Arts Pretoria)Advisors
Mr Gilberto LEAL
(Director, Maranatha Ceramic Products, Johannesburg)Mrs Lynette TEN KROODEN
(Association of Arts Pretoria)Approved and adopted at the Annual General Meeting on 2 October 1998, and amended at Annual General Meetings on 23 April 2004, 21 April 2006, 27 April 2007 and 28 August 2010.
Sanava: A member of the IAA
The South African Association of Arts (SAAA), earlier name of the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), was a founding member of the International Association of Art (IAA)/Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (AIAP). The IAA is a non-governmental world body run by and for visual artists in every medium, style and tradition. It was founded in 1954 under the auspices of UNESCO. Artists from countries worldwide are represented by their national committees. At the 1st General Assembly of the IAA, held in Venice from 28 September to 3 October 1954, the SAAA was represented by an established visual artist, Walter Battiss. He was elected as a member of the organisation’s first Executive Committee, together with representatives from Brazil, USA, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan and Sweden.
The principal objectives of the IAA are:
- to stimulate international co-operation, free from any aesthetic, political or other bias, among artists of all countries;
- to improve the economic and social position of artists at the international level, and to defend their material and moral rights; and
- to co-operate with UNESCO in the field of the visual arts.
The Executive Committee of IAA/AIAP
The Executive Committee of IAA/AIAP as elected at the International General Assembly of IAA/AIAP, Guadalajara, Mexico, 2011
President:
Rosa Maria Burillo, Mexico
Vice President:
Grete Marstein, Norway
Treasurer:
Anne Pourny, FranceRegional coordinators:
Asia and the Pacific: Kan Irie, Japan
Latin America and the Caribbean: Ulises Roman, Chile
Africa: Dev Chooramun, Mauritius
Europe: Anders Lidén, SwedenEC members:
Bedri Baykam, Turkey
(with special responsibility for contacts with the Arab region)
Anton Loubser, South Africa
Christos Symeonides, CyprusAnnual General Meeting
All members of the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA) were invited to the Annual General Meeting hosted by the Stellenbosch Arts Association on Saturday 7 May 2011. The meeting was held at the University Museum in Ryneveld Street in the heart of Stellenbosch.
The Chairperson commended the various initiatives and activities of its branches and affiliates. SANAVA acknowledged Anton Loubser, Deputy President and acting executive officer, for his dedication in running the administration from Head Office in Pretoria.
Branch members were reminded of the benefits of being a member of SANAVA and notified of international opportunities for artists as well as prestigious national art competitions such as the ABSA Atelier, the SASOL New Signatures art competition and the PPC Cement Young Concrete Sculptor Awards competition.
National President’s Annual Report 2011
During the past year, the Association’s membership and financial situation have been further stabilised. It remained an objective of promoting the development of visual artists, both at local and international level and rendering assistance in this regard wherever required. SANAVA’s Head Office pays tribute to its branches and affiliated organisations for the sustained efforts they have been making in promoting the visual arts in their areas, frequently hamstrung by limited financial means and human resources.
Extracts from the National President's Report: 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011
Extracts from the National President's Report: 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010
Extracts from the National President's Report 2009: 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009
